Pros

Cons

Bottom Line

The Syncwire 2-in-1 Mini Wi-Fi Smart Outlet is an economical multi-socket smart plug that features energy monitoring and voice control.

July 20, 2018

For $25.99, the Syncwire 2-in-1 Mini Wi-Fi Smart Outlet gets you double the sockets without doubling the price. It has two individually programmable sockets in a single plug, along with plentiful scheduling options, If This Then That (IFTTT) compatibility, and voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It lacks integration with Apple HomeKit, but makes up for it with energy monitoring and an easy-to-use app. It's a great smart plug for anyone looking to maximize space, though the iHome iSP6X SmartPlug remains our Editors' Choice thanks to its wider third-party support.

Design and App

The Syncwire is a white plastic oval that measures 1.6 by 4.7 by 1.2 inches (HWD), making it the widest plug we've tested thus far. That makes sense, as it has two three-prong sockets on the front, along with two power buttons with LED indicator lights.

You won't have a problem fitting two separate Syncwires in your average vertical wall outlet. And as each plug has two sockets, it's a handy solution if you want to control a number of devices in a confined area, such as a kitchen counter or near a bedroom nightstand. However, if you plan to use the Syncwire with a power strip, be aware that its wide shape might not be an ideal fit.

You control using the Smart Life app for Android or iOS. The app itself is straightforward and simple to use. You can view all of your connected (plugged in) devices via the main screen. From there, you can turn plugs on or off individually or as a group. There's also a small clock icon you can tap to program schedules, and a power icon that lets you view energy usage statistics.

As far as energy monitoring goes, things are pretty basic. You can see how many kilowatt hours you've used in a day, along with the current wattage, voltage, and milliamperage you're using. You can also view a graph of how much electricity you've used over time. It's useful, but there's no breakdown of cost savings like you get with the iDevices Switch.

Back at the main screen, you can also access the Scenes and Profile tabs. The former lets you program conditional routines based on temperature, humidity, weather, air quality, sunrise/sunset times, and device status, which is convenient if you want to use the plug with appliances, such as a fan or air conditioner. (For instance, you can set an air conditioner to turn on when the temperature in your area hits 85 degrees.) The Profile tab, meanwhile, is where you can tweak settings, access FAQs, set up integrations with other smart home devices, and enable device sharing with family members.

Setup and Performance

Once you've downloaded the Smart Life app, getting started is easy. The app will prompt you for a phone number and text you a verification code, after which you can set up your account.

Once registered, plug in the Syncwire and wait for the indicator lights to rapidly blink blue to indicate that it's in pairing mode. Then tap the plus icon in the upper right corner of the app and find the plug, at which point you'll need to enter your Wi-Fi network password. Make sure you're connected to a 2.4GHz network, as the Syncwire doesn't support 5GHz.

There are a few extra steps if you want to use the Syncwire with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. In either case, you have to go into the individual Alexa or Google Home app to enable the Smart Life skill. You then have to link your accounts. Once that's done, you can use voice commands to turn the plug on or off. And if you want the plug to interact with other smart home devices or services, you can use IFTTT applets. For example, you can set up an applet that logs when the plug turns on or off in a Google Sheets spreadsheet.

To test the Syncwire, I plugged in two lamps and set up separate routines for each. The lights responded exactly as expected, though I noted a short delay with each. In addition to individual programming, the plug also handled group routines with aplomb, turning both lights on and off simultaneously. It also worked with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, and IFTTT integration, without a hitch.

Two Sockets Are Better Than One

If you want to control multiple devices from a single smart plug, the Syncwire 2-in-1 Mini Wi-Fi Smart Outlet is a good bet. Not only do you get two sockets for the price of one, each can be controlled individually for maximum customizability. You also plenty of useful scheduling options, IFTTT compatibility, and voice control via Alexa and Google Assistant. And don't forget about the energy monitoring.

Heavy Apple users, however, are better off with a HomeKit-compatible alternative, such as the iDevices Switch. If you like to mix and match devices across a wide range of platforms, meanwhile, you can't beat our Editors' Choice, the iHome iSP6X. Its wide range of third-party support makes it the most versatile smart plug we've tested.

About the Author

Victoria Song is an analyst on the Hardware team at PCMag. Since graduating from Temple University’s Japan Campus in 2010, she's been found reporting and editing in every corner of the newsroom at The ACCJ Journal, The Japan News, and New York bureau of The Yomiuri Shimbun. In her spare time, she bankrupts herself going to theater, buying expansions to board games, and cleaning out the stacks at The Strand. Someday, she hopes Liverpool FC will win the league, but she isn’t holding her breath.